Factors associated with self-medication of antibiotics by caregivers in pediatric patients attending the emergency department: a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic self-medication is a common practice in pediatric caregivers in low-income countries with limited resources and represents a public health problem. Our study sought to determine what factors are associated with this practice, including differences in knowledge or attitudes of caregivers who attend a pediatric emergency service. METHODS: Case-control study based on surveys of caregivers of pediatric patients brought to the emergency room with clinical symptoms suggestive of acute infection. Cases were defined as those caregivers who reported self-medication of antibiotics for the current illness and controls where those who did not report self-medication. Information was collected through a self-administered questionnaire that inquired about demographic and family characteristics, attitudes and knowledge toward self-medication of antibiotics. Data were compared using logistic regression and are presented with odd ratios and confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 728 caregivers, 182 cases and 546 controls were included. We found that higher parental education, both in mothers (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40-0.79) and fathers (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.89) was associated with less self-medication. Attitudes such as always requesting antibiotics from their doctors (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.59-9.66), frequently buying antibiotics without a prescription (OR 23.66, 95% CI 11.76-47.59) and giving advice on antibiotics among family members (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.75-4.82) resulted in an increased likelihood of self-medication. There was also a higher probability of antibiotic self-medication in older children (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09-1.17), those with a greater number of siblings (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09-1.43) and in those cases that received antibiotics within the last 3 months (OR 6.27, 95% CI 4.35-9.04). Overall knowledge of risk of antibiotic self-medication was low. CONCLUSIONS: Some patient and family characteristics such as age, number of siblings, recent antibiotic usage and inappropriate attitudes are strongly related to antibiotic self-medication. These findings will inform future interventions to reduce self-medication in children.

Actualización en enfermedad renal poliquística / Update on polycystic kidney disease

Resumen Introducción. La enfermedad renal poliquística (PKD, por su sigla en inglés) es una enfermedad genética frecuente en la que se desarrollan de forma progresiva lesiones quísticas que reemplazan el parénquima renal. Es una causa de insuficiencia renal terminal y una indicación común para diálisis y trasplante renal. Existen dos presentaciones de PKD que se distinguen por sus patrones de herencia: la enfermedad renal poliquística dominante (ADPKD, por su sigla en inglés) y la enfermedad renal poliquística recesiva (ARPKD, por su sigla en inglés). Objetivo. Resumir los aspectos más relevantes de la enfermedad renal: epidemiología, fisiopatología, diagnóstico, manifestaciones clínicas, tratamiento y pronóstico. Materiales y métodos. Revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos PubMed, Lilacs, UptoDate y Medline con los siguientes términos: enfermedades renales poliquísticas, riñón poliquístico autosómico dominante y riñón poliquístico autosómico recesivo. Resultados. Se encontraron 271 artículos y se escogieron 64 con base en su importancia. Conclusiones. Todo paciente con enfermedad renal poliquística en insuficiencia renal grado V debe ser estudiado para un trasplante renal; en la mayoría de los casos no se encontrará contraindicación para realizarlo.

Abstract Introduction: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common genetic disease in which cystic lesions develop and progressively replace the renal parenchyma. This is a cause of end-stage kidney disease and a common indication for dialysis and kidney transplantation. These disease presents in two forms, which can be differentiated by their inheritance patterns: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Objective: To present a brief account of the most relevant aspects of kidney disease: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis. Materials and methods: Systematic literature review conducted in the PubMed, Lilacs, UptoDate and Medline databases with the following terms: polycystic kidney diseases, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney. Results: 271 articles were found and 64 were chosen based on their relevance. Conclusions: All autosomal polycystic kidney disease patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease should be considered for transplantation, since it is not contraindicated in most cases.